Alumni Mentor
English
Matt Bird is a native Hoosier. He earned a Bachelor of Science in English in 2009, minoring in creative writing from Indiana State University. Matt earned a Master of Library Science, with rare books and manuscripts specialization, from IU-Bloomington in 2013.
In 2013, Matt left a thirteen year career—spanning cinema exhibition management, corporate sales, and sales management—to begin teaching classical mythology courses in ISU’s Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics department. During this time, he also taught courses for ISU’s Honors College on the history of the book and Greek mythology. Interested in public education, Matt transitioned focus and taught 9th & 11th grade English in Terre Haute.
In 2016, Matt became Special Collections & Archives Manager at Vigo County Public Library, a class-A Indiana public library. At Vigo County Public Library, Matt spearheaded initiatives to feature and connect rare materials with community groups. He and his team were also awarded several grants for material digitization and a remodel of VCPL’s archival equipment and workspace. Matt was named/recognized as a 2018 “Fine Young Librarian” by Fine Books & Collections magazine.
Matt became the ISU Honors College’s first Student Research and Engagement Coordinator in 2018. He currently assists Honors students with their individual senior research project/thesis, as well as outside research such as conference preparation and co-chaperoning study abroad research trips—most recently Italy (2018) & Greece (2020). Matt also develops and teaches courses for the Honors College. He recently was named 2019’s ISU Honors College Faculty of the Year. Matt was also one of the recipients of the 2019 ISU Residential Life’s Professing Excellence & Inspiring Instruction Award.
“Indiana State University & ISU’s English department, faculty, and degree program allowed me—a first generation student—to explore my passion to learn. It gave me the tools and knowledge to forge a career path that interests me every day. I now get to assist students on their collegiate journey and support them pursue their career aspirations. ISU’s English program and creative writing minor opened worlds for me, laying foundations for me to build a fulfilling career and give back to the ISU community.”
Honors Courses:
GH101 Summer of 1982: A Critical Look at the Greatest Summer of Cinema
GH101 Chilling Tales & Cosmic Horror
GH201 Banned. Censored. Challenged.
GH301 Clay to Kindle: A History of the Book